News Föhrenbach AG

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Maximum performance at minimized mounting space and weight. With the KBS 075, Föhrenbach adds a particularly compact solution to its product range of motorized precision slides with spindle drive. With a guide unit of 75 mm width, it is in particular suitable for simple guide and assembly tasks. It offers all reliable technical advantages of this series and through the modular-type system it opens up to the greatest possible flexibility regarding configuration of implementations, which are perfectly tailored for each application; functionally and in price.

Optimal force absorption of shaft support The characteristic design feature of the precision slides with ball bushing guides is the V- shape of the shaft support. This is the result of a long-standing application oriented development work at Föhrenbach. Through the V-shape the forces acting on the guide unit are optimally absorbed, which results in an optimal capacity for torque and tensile load of the guide, regardless of the current loading direction. This particular compact construction allows mechanical engineers, where applicable, to use a smaller and thereby more cost-effective unit and thereby saving valuable installation space inside the machine.

Custom-fit modular system-type axis systemsKBS 075 is part of the convenient Föhrenbach-Modular-Systems which comprises of precision slides with different types of guides, construction sizes and slide lengths, each with different strokes. The guide units can easily and cost-effective be combined directly, or with standard angles, to versatile 2-, 3- and multi axis systems.

The slide is driven by precision ball screw spindle drives with pitches of 2 and 5 mm. Strokes are available from 25 up to 300mm.The motor can be disassembled axially over the flange and coupling or over the lateral mounted belt drive. The transmission ratio of the spindle is 1:1. According to our customers need, the use of different motor types is possible.

From this extensive range of product versions and construction sizes, machine designers can configure exactly the axis system, which meets the exact requirements in functionality and dimension of the respective machine application.

Courage for a highly dynamic drive for precise positioning20 years success story of direct drives for high-precision positioning systems.

Linear and rotary direct drives offer significant advantages in the operation of demanding positioning systems. They deliver high speeds and acceleration values. In addition, they are low-maintenance, provide very long service lives and have the best characteristics for synchronisation and positioning accuracy. Nevertheless, there are still reservations in mechanical engineering. A possible extra effort in the control system commissioning of the axes frightens some designers. However, Föhrenbach’s more than 20 years of experience in the use of direct drives in high-precision positioning systems is clear: The deployment is worthwhile in a sustainable manner, and commissioning is easier than expected thanks to good cooperation between the machine manufacturer and the positioning system experts.

The technical properties of linear motors and the design features of directly driven positioning axes lead to numerous positive properties that predestine the corresponding positioning systems for particularly demanding applications. What are these properties?

Low-maintenance machine design for maximum productivityDirect drives eliminate many mechanical components such as gears, pinions, racks, spindles, timing belts and chains. The slim design of the mechanism significantly reduces wear, resulting in longer system life. Machine operators benefit from reduced maintenance and increased machine availability. And thanks to their complete integration into the machine, linear motor axes offer particularly high reliability even under harsh operating conditions. At high cycle speeds, energy savings of up to 70% compared to spindle drives are possible.
Economically, these advantages are particularly relevant in applications where above-average productivity is required and a machine downtime causes high costs. The high acceleration and traversing speed also ensure fast processing times. Optimized high-volume production is therefore reliably and economically supported by a machine solution with direct-drive positioning axes.
Of course, a direct drive is not a miracle component of the machine design. It can only develop its robust technical characteristics if the entire positioning system is first of all designed coherently, secondly it has been dimensioned to suit the application, and thirdly, the highest precision in the mechanical machining of the axes systems is guaranteed.

Quality due to excellent positioning accuracy and synchronous propertiesThe elimination of the above-mentioned mechanical elements also has a positive effect on the precision of the positioning. It eliminates the typical inaccuracies due to gear play, toothed belt strain, wave torsion, resonance or hysteresis. Given the careful mechanical processing of the linear axes, it is ultimately the measuring system for directly driven linear axes that determines the accuracy of the overall application.
Therefore, in conjunction with a high-resolution measuring system, there are very good synchronization properties, even at low travel speeds. Also, positioning and repeat accuracy are improved over traditional mechanical transmission systems. And thanks to the optimum ratio of torque or force to intrinsic inertia or power to weight, direct-drive positioning systems are characterized by particularly high dynamics. The high rigidity of the mechanical system allows a higher gain of the control circuits.

The quality of the axles sets standardsEspecially in terms of accuracy, however, the overall system is only as good as its weakest component. In conjunction with the potentially very high precision of the direct-drive and a finely resolved measuring system, the quality of the mechanical machining of the axes ultimately determines the performance of the application.
Föhrenbach therefore develops its positioning systems on the principle of “everything from one source”. The motors used are in-house developments with very high power density. Above all, however, when it comes to fine milling and grinding of the axles, the company sets above-average standards. This is achieved with very high performance and vertical integration by the use of a specialised machinery including the measurement of produced axes by means of a laser interferometer. In this combination of experienced design and the most demanding production, Föhrenbach succeeds in implementing positioning systems with a repeatability and positioning accuracy in the range of ≤ 1 μm.

No fear of direct-drives - Smooth commissioning includedDirect drives allow high acceleration values compared to mechanical transmission systems. This positive system characteristic places increased demands on the regulation and control of the axes or on the setup and commissioning of drive controllers.
From this aspect as well, Föhrenbach’s integrated approach of supplying all the required components from a single source offers a proven solution. Föhrenbach has developed its own portfolio of controllers and drive controllers, which are delivered completely to customers in the own control cabinet. For customers who choose this integral solution for the positioning technology of their machines, Föhrenbach takes over the setting of the controllers and the commissioning of the axis and multi-axis systems with applied loads. The systems are handed over to the customer ready for operation in an optimized state.
However, even if another drive and control technology is to be used in consideration of equipment regulations or according to customer requirements, the Föhrenbach service technicians offer a commissioning service. According to the respective device specifications, commissioning is prepared at the factory and accompanied on site by the end customer. Especially in view of the low maintenance and the long service life of the direct-drive positioning systems worth this initial effort.
Föhrenbach has all the necessary measuring equipment for detecting position spread, running accuracy ≤ 1“(tilting, yawing and rolling), as well as angular and tumbling errors in rotary axes.
The precision in the machining of the axes is also the guarantee for the robustness of Föhrenbach's directly driven positioning systems described at the beginning. Only in conjunction with a particularly precise design of the remaining mechanical components, the long service life and the minimum maintenance of the systems can be effectively realised in the long term.

Years of successful use in demanding industriesFor more than 40 years, Föhrenbach has been developing and manufacturing high-precision components, units and systems for linear and rotary motion in automation technology and precision engineering. For around 20 years, our own developments have been using integrated linear motors that are adapted to the customer's requirements. Thus, a portfolio of systems of different sizes and different strong linear motors have emerged, which, depending on the tightness requirements, have adequate solutions for covering the slide guide. For requirements that cannot be realised with these high-quality standard components, Föhrenbach develops tailor-made systems. These high-precision positioning solutions are used in customer applications with particularly high demands on the quality and/or availability of processing machines. Examples are laser processing, laboratory applications or the printed circuit board industry. In view of many years of customer relations, the developers and service of Föhrenbach can fully confirm the outstanding features and operating advantages of linear and rotary direct drives in positioning tasks. In view of the partly decisive competitive advantages, Föhrenbach is convinced that these solutions will find their way into machine automation concepts to an even greater extent in the future.

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Jan
31
2018

Other

Positioning with system with the rotary tables from Föhrenbach!

Date:

More than 40 years of positioning experience – and thus a comprehensive know-how in the development and production of rotary table solutions.
Therefore, we can offer a sophisticated and proven range of rotary tables, which can be used for the most diverse applications:

Föhrenbach rotary tables with worm gear of 7 different sizes, already available from a diameter of 50 mm to 400 mm. All tables of this series are very compact and have, nevertheless, a large light aperture through which the supply lines can be routed. Upon request, we also supply the rotary tables with drive and control system as plug&play solution.

Föhrenbach rotary tables with direct drive are available in different sizes and with different measuring systems and even up to a diameter of 630 mm. Each rotary table has special application qualities with regard to precision, dynamic or load.

We offer suitable accessories for all rotary tables such as clamping systems, swivel units, jaw chucks, motors, connection cables as well as drive regulators and control systems.
All rotary tables are characterised by the compact design, high precision and durability

Löffingen-Unadingen, September 2017: As experienced manufacturer of high-precision systems for linear and rotary movements, Föhrenbach is familiar with every detail of the control requirements of automation technology and precision engineering. This technological expertise is the basis of the new compact unipos 330, a versatile, modular CNC path control for up to three interpolating axes. Thanks to the particularly ergonomic programming concept, the applications and HMI may be programmed conveniently on the integrated panel PC without major training effort. With its focus on the efficient and precise positioning, the unipos 330 offers a complete solution optimised with regard to the price for handling, assembly technology, linear robots in engineering and for special applications even for medium and smaller quantities.
Process know-how, expansion options and easy operation The unipos 330 is characterised by a functionality and equipment designed for demanding positioning tasks. Up to three servo controllers are already integrated in the device for the interpolating path control. Alternatively, it is possible to control up to three NC stepper motor axes. A PLC, which may be programmed in ladder diagram, is also integrated. The standard interfaces of the unipos 330, i.e. digital as well as analogue inputs and outputs, may be added conveniently. Thus, a CANopen extension, for example, allows the connection of decentralised inputs and outputs. Further servo controllers and an emergency stop system guided on plug connectors may also be realised as an option. The programming is realised on the panel PC with 7“ TFT colour touch screen or on a PC connected to the control via ethernet. Al common DIN commands (G code /ISO programming) are available for the creation of the application software. User interfaces may be configurated conveniently by means of a graphics-based programming environment. In addition to this, three freely programmable keys are available. The easy and intuitive learnability of the programming tools reduces the training effort and ensures a fast commissioning as well as a high acceptance by the operator. Armin Ketterer, Product Manager, summarises the development concept of the unipos 330: “With the unipos 330, we offer a technologically advanced control solution which was designed very pragmatically. It is capable of all the basics you need for positioning. This facilitates programming and operation and reduces investment. Two factors, which offer sustainable competitive advantages to our customers in engineering.”

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Dec
6
2017

Other

Föhrenbach enhances its product range with a directly driven rotary table with a diameter of 250 mm.

Date:

Löffingen-Unadingen, July 2017: The development and production of directly driven rotary tables with electronically commutated 3-phase synchronous motors and an integrated measuring system is one of the core competences of Föhrenbach GmbH. Now the specialist for precision positioning systems has enhanced its product range with the rotary table RT2A250 with a rotary plate of 250 mm in diameter. Its direct drive is characterized by a high degree of stiffness, high precision and an optimal rotating feature. It enables positioning within seconds.
High productivity as a construction feature In series production, every millisecond counts. With highest demands in dynamics when it comes to positioning systems and to reliably warrant the defined precision, direct drives are the means of choice. The very high precision and the repetitive accuracy as well as the above average dynamics even with high loads opens a variety of possibilities in application for the new rotary table RT3A250 for high demands in productivity as well as in quality.
Yet productivity of a positioning device does not only depend on the speed of the positioning process. On that, Horst Oster at Föhrenbach, he is the responsible man for rotary tables: “What counts is the interaction of dynamics, availability and flexibility. Everything of course under the requirement of reliably defined plane- and rotation precision. The design principle of direct drive supports this requirement in a technically outstanding manner. “
Maintenance – free and compact Which are the decisive design features of direct drive? This system can do without transduction- and transmission elements. It ensures an optimal stiffness and a highest degree in dynamics. The fact that hysteresis is missing, offers a high degree of agility when it comes to short cycle movements. Except for the bearings, all wearing parts like transmission and clutches which are part of the neuralgic parts of positioning systems have become redundant. This results in a widely reduced maintenance effort, more availability and even longer resting times. A positive side-effect are the especially small installation dimensions of the direct drive. And last not least direct drive offers very high movement flexibility. Extremely fast and slow movements are both possible in dependable manner. With the Model RT3A250 Föhrenbach successfully continues its proven and fully developed product range. There are hardly any limits for application. Rotary tables with direct drive by Föhrenbach are used for many years now in the laser industry, semi-conductor and electronic industries, machine tool industry, medical technology and in the design of optical devices.

Company information Föhrenbach AG

Presentation

About Föhrenbach:The Föhrenbach Group, which was founded by Manfred Föhrenbach in 1975, stands for uncompromising precision and above-average durability of its products. The company with headquarters in Löffingen-Unadingen and facilities in Switzerland and Ireland is one of the leading manufacturers of high-precision components such as manual slide guides, rotary tables and rotation axes and motorized precision slides (linear motor axis and spindle drive). Föhrenbach develops customer-specific complete solutions and special machines, incl. application-optimised CNC control units, which are suitable for these high-precision system components.

Föhrenbach solves guiding, drive, movement, control and positioning tasks. As a solution provider, the Föhrenbach Group is a recognised partner of leading companies of machine construction and adjacent industries.

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